The solution to painful intercourse!!!!!! Yipeee!

Okay, ladies, I considered starting a new topic entitled "How Dry I Am, " but let me introduce (har-dee-har) this non-sexual-but-related issue here. I have not had intercourse for quite a while and am menopausal, but I have never had a problem having a gynecological exam. The other day at my annual visit, my gyn could not get a speculum of any size into my vagina anywhere near my cervix for a PAP smear. She said it was too dry and the walls were thin and inflexible because of the Fasolodex.( Her attempts hurt like hell as well.) Fortunately I've had normal PAPs forever, so that's of minor concern. But what about the possibility of UTIs?

Of course I can't use anything estrogen-based to address this. Thoughts? 

Thanks ladies for all the good tips!  Now that I got my all clear from surgery and pathology, I might actually think about having sex again and I'm sure I will need something.  I was taken off all of my BHRT several months ago, so dryness and atrophy is setting in again!

I do not understand your docs saying no. What about the oncologist? Would he/she be willing to "consult" with some of our Oncologist's? I would be willing to ask mine to speak with them if it would help.

Actually, I do see an oncological gynecologist now, ever since my ooph/hyst -- and it IS a good thing.  He consults with my oncologist for any decisions regarding my care. 

"E"---If all else fails, perhaps having your dh consult with HIS doc to write you the script.  I mean, MEN do look after their own.  Knowing a man is in need, I bet you'd get what you need them in the way of scripts.  Amazing that these docs are so ignorant to think they know all and are all.  

I've decided after 2 years of celebacy, we are going to go this route and see how the cookies fall.  I'm tired of having to wait and see if things improve, or having the gyno disagree with the onco or the onco with the gyno or primary.  It's MY life and it's going to be MY way or the highway for them all, dangit~

And yes, moderators....please if do a little research and find enough support to list this on the 'Vaginal Dryness' forum, please do, b/c not ONE Of the things you listed helped me over the last few years.

Just sign me out as: tired of being cranky, in pain and frustrated with a medical field that can cure E.D. and all their problems, but we are supposed to 'lay down' and accept defeat~  Not anymore I SAY!!!!!! 

Oh....wanted to say also, I'm sorry for posting on the Stage IV's threads, I know it's unwelcomed by some, but this is so important to All the sisters, I really think it needs to be shared by all.  Thanks for ladies for allowing us to join in on this one?

Wishiwere - Heyyyy Hugs Girl! You are more than welcome. Ummm yup 2 years... enough is enough my friend. I hope this works for you as well as it did for me . I haven't been on FB much lately as Ive been here a fair bit (being back in tx and all) It took me a year before I was ready for it... :P 

My pharmacist Moe is looking into the price of doing a batch of 500 grams for me (lol 500 nookies lordy lordy) He said the price will drop dramatically. At $140 for a 30 gram jar in Canada ...weeeell its a bit much, (but still worth it) Lol, he's called my home now 4 times.... even to ask if it worked... Also figured I would see what it was like on a day I just felt very dry in general (uncomfortably so) and it worked well. Heh heh didnt feel I had to jump in the sack, just a pleasant natural feeling.

Have to run.. hoping to get a noble pine tree tonight, almost thought I wasn't going to bother for the first time ever! But changed my mind.

Hugs Suz

Okay... I got a prescription from my gyn-onc, and I think she wrote it worng.  The "recipe" says something about a "transdermal vehicle" which I assume refers to the cream base.  My doc's spacey PA wrote "transdermal patch." 

Do you think I can get it filled anyway?  Just bring the printout with me and explain to the pharmacist that it's a typo in the Rx?

coffe cottage cheese enemas (as in douche?).  I am not a sex gal.. but I am going to try it.  wish i could get it down there thru my mouth.   i prefer chocolate, but i sure seem to have a lot of it (sex) in my life due to my husband. 

I had this thread open.. and my daughter came to me asking if sex hurt. 

carry on.

enjoyous - I am sitting here with my mouth dropped open.  I mean really?  I would get a whole new set of doctors if I was dealing with the crap like you are.

I want to see some of those screen shots - LOL 

Enjoyous - Geeeeeze, I cant believe they are giving you so much flack.... Big Hugs! Hoped it gets sorted out soon... all I want for Christmas is ________

Hugs Suz

I do think they are totally different products. The Vagifem is a little tablet that is inserted vaginally and it is estrogen. My gyn and onc did confer (thourgh me). From the arimidex, I was in so much pain on a daily basis that it was awful. Gyn told me that the vaginal tissue was badly being destroyed which explained the pain. He said not unusual for Arimidex to do that. He does work at the the same hospital/cancer centre as my med onc. He said Vagifem builds up the vaginal wall and once it's built up the estrogen does not permeate the vaginal wall and stays local so that there is no worry about it causing problems for ES+ breast cancer. The key is keeping the vaginal wall nice and thick. He said there are med onc who don't understand this and ask patients to lower the dose (mine did as well) - he said this is not good because then the vaginal tissue thins out again and the estrogen can seep out. There is a very low dose of Vagifem - i think it's 10 mg only 2x week ....and it does the job. From a QOL issue, I couldn't go on without some help. This has worked for me. I think the SC serves a more pleasurable purpose so you might want to give it a try as well. My gyn has always worked in research and is on staff at the medical school as well so I do trust him to be knowledgeable.

Am curious... has anyone tried SC/lido & it "didnt help"? So far we have all commented on it working with a little practice on the timing & where we use it.

Hrf - She put me on it because the menopause hit me hard between Chemo & Oopherectomy. It wasnt just for intimate reasons although thats why I had the appointment. It was just plain old painful & so dry. She explained the reasons behind the pain, one of being the thinning of the lining. Seeing the dose change that you've mentioned I imagine it would be much less intense... she wanted to work me up to the ring thats just left inside for a period of time (cant remember how long) I appreciate the info on dosage. It might be enough for me to consider trying it again. Lol, I could just break the pill which is quite big into three.

I dont find the SC to be like viagra... It feels really natural. Its more like a light stimulation that gets your body to react the way its supposed to. Hard to explain, I'm guessing because it brings blood flow to the area, your bodies natural response seems to kick in. It doesnt feel like a strong stimulant but in the right situation... well it really works. When I used it in a non sexual situation it just seems to get rid of that dry feeling inside.

I should ask Moe the pharmasist if he would write out what exactly each ingredient does.. he did tell me but I didnt write it down (was just happy I got it)

Hugs Suz

Jancie I know what you mean... its like everything is younger inside. Lol at the regretting it, heh heh heh....